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Eden
2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in New Fiction
2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in Women's Fiction
2018 IBPA Ben Franklin Finalist in Best New Fiction
Becca Meister Fitzpatrick―wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of the community―is the dutiful steward of her family’s iconic summer tradition . . . until she discovers her recently deceased husband squandered their nest egg. As she struggles to accept that this is likely her last season in Long Harbor, Becca is inspired by her granddaughter’s boldness in the face of impending single-motherhood, and summons the courage to reveal a secret she was forced to bury long the existence of a daughter she gave up fifty years ago. The question now is how her other daughter, Rachel―with whom Becca has always had a strained relationship―will react. Eden is the account of the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, as Becca prepares to disclose her secret and her son and brothers conspire to put the estate on the market, interwoven with the century-old history of Becca’s family―her parents’ beginnings and ascent into affluence, and her mother’s own secret struggles in the grand home her father named “Eden.”
2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in Women's Fiction
2018 IBPA Ben Franklin Finalist in Best New Fiction
Becca Meister Fitzpatrick―wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of the community―is the dutiful steward of her family’s iconic summer tradition . . . until she discovers her recently deceased husband squandered their nest egg. As she struggles to accept that this is likely her last season in Long Harbor, Becca is inspired by her granddaughter’s boldness in the face of impending single-motherhood, and summons the courage to reveal a secret she was forced to bury long the existence of a daughter she gave up fifty years ago. The question now is how her other daughter, Rachel―with whom Becca has always had a strained relationship―will react. Eden is the account of the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, as Becca prepares to disclose her secret and her son and brothers conspire to put the estate on the market, interwoven with the century-old history of Becca’s family―her parents’ beginnings and ascent into affluence, and her mother’s own secret struggles in the grand home her father named “Eden.”
328 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2017
170 people are currently reading
1222 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg
4 books156 followersJeanne Blasberg is an award-winning and bestselling author and essayist. Her novel THE NINE (SWP 2019) was honored with the 2019 Foreword Indies Gold Award in Thriller & Suspense and the Gold Medal and Juror’s Choice in the 2019 National Indie Excellence Awards. EDEN (SWP 2017), her debut, won the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Best New Voice in Fiction and was a finalist for the Sarton Women’s Book Award for Historical Fiction. Her forthcoming novel, Daughter of a Promise (SWP, April 2, 2024) is a modern retelling of the legend of David and Bathsheba, completing the thematic trilogy she began with Eden and The Nine.
Jeanne cochairs the board of the Boston Book Festival and serves on the Executive Committee of GrubStreet, one of the country’s preeminent creative writing centers. Jeanne was named a Southampton Writer’s Conference BookEnds Fellow in April 2021. She reviews contemporary fiction for the New York Journal of Books, When not in New England, she splits her time between Park City, UT, and growing organic vegetables in Verona, Wisconsin.
Jeanne cochairs the board of the Boston Book Festival and serves on the Executive Committee of GrubStreet, one of the country’s preeminent creative writing centers. Jeanne was named a Southampton Writer’s Conference BookEnds Fellow in April 2021. She reviews contemporary fiction for the New York Journal of Books, When not in New England, she splits her time between Park City, UT, and growing organic vegetables in Verona, Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
April 28, 2017
Becca Meister has spent all of her summers living at her family’s estate in Rhode Island. The property is named “Eden” and has been owned by her
family through multiple generations. Now in her 70’s, Becca is the current owner along with her two brothers. Her secure life becomes unhinged after her husband's death . She finds out that he has mismanaged their retirement funds and she can no longer support the upkeep on the house. She is forced to reach out to her family for help.
Fearing that this could be her last summer in Eden, she invites her children along with her brothers and extended family to celebrate July 4th. With the entire clan present, she hopes to secure a future for Eden. Becca decides that it's also time to reveal some Meister family secrets that originated in the house.
The mystery unfolds with Eden as a common thread that keeps the family connected. Throughout the highs and lows of each individual story, love and family prevails. I enjoyed reading this family saga by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg.
Book and beach bag giveaway on my blog until 4/30 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
family through multiple generations. Now in her 70’s, Becca is the current owner along with her two brothers. Her secure life becomes unhinged after her husband's death . She finds out that he has mismanaged their retirement funds and she can no longer support the upkeep on the house. She is forced to reach out to her family for help.
Fearing that this could be her last summer in Eden, she invites her children along with her brothers and extended family to celebrate July 4th. With the entire clan present, she hopes to secure a future for Eden. Becca decides that it's also time to reveal some Meister family secrets that originated in the house.
The mystery unfolds with Eden as a common thread that keeps the family connected. Throughout the highs and lows of each individual story, love and family prevails. I enjoyed reading this family saga by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg.
Book and beach bag giveaway on my blog until 4/30 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
August 4, 2017
While on summer vacation, I was thrilled to make a small dent in my ever growing TBR by reading nine books, all of which were good (amazing in and of itself because I tend to be a picky reader). My two favorites BY FAR were Eden and Party Girls Die in Pearls by Plum Sykes, two very different but equally fabulous reads. Eden combines a beautiful setting with well-drawn and complex characters and a superb plot. As the book opens, Becca, the family matriarch, has learned that the beach house (Eden) where she has spent every summer for decades will have to be sold. She gathers her entire family together to celebrate the 4th of July and attempt to find a way to keep Eden in the family. The story unfolds across generations and time periods as both Eden’s and numerous family members’ stories and secrets are revealed. I truly loved this book and cannot say enough good things about it. I was so sad when it ended but thought the ending was perfect. I was also please that the author included a family tree at the front of the book because there are a lot of characters, and it was so helpful to flip to it early on when I was having trouble keeping everyone straight. Eden has definitely secured a spot in my best reads of 2017 list, and I have been recommending it to everyone I know.
August 26, 2018
Family saga than spans generations- loved the relationships and drama with the historical backdrop that included the stock market crash, the hurricane of 1938 and World War II...full review to come. Follow my blog Book Nation by Jen for all reviews and recommendations.
June 22, 2017
The mystery unfolds with Eden as a common thread that keeps the family connected. Throughout the highs and lows of each individual story, love and family prevails. I enjoyed reading this book.
June 16, 2017
Wow!Wow! Wow! Kudos to Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg,author of “EDEN” for such an intriguing and amazing story. I love the way the author weaves the story of several generations of families that Eden is a home to. The genres of this novel are Fiction(Adult) and Historical Fiction.
The characters are described as complicated and complex. The timeline in the story vacillates between the past and the present day. I can see how “Eden” is built as a house that becomes a “home” to the various family members, over the years. Certain traditions continue through the years. The artistic descriptions of the home and coastline are breathtaking. The ocean’s beauty and wrath can be seen.
The author describes how the several generations of women tried to conform to the standards of the time. Many years ago, certain illnesses such as epilepsy had to be kept quiet. Single pregnant women went “away” and had to give their babies away. Many years ago mental illness and depression carried more of a stigma. As the years progressed standards did change, but there were different stigmas.
As we are introduced to each family member, we can see that Eden holds a special bond of family meetings and traditions. In each generation, there are hardships and heart breaks and secrets. The secrets from the past continue to play a part in the present.
There is a possibility that this will be the last summer at Eden, due to financial problems. There are differences of opinions how this problem should be dealt with. Will this be the end of a generational family tradition?
The author discusses such topics as family, love, traditions, secrets, and hope.
I would highly recommend this novel for readers who love historical literature. family and love. This novel had me captivated and I didn’t want it to end. I received a copy of this novel for my honest review! Happy Reading!!!
October 4, 2019
Ein solider Familienroman, der uns 3 Generationen der Familie Meister nahe bringt. Das Setting ist im malerischen Long Harbour direkt an der Küste in einer prächtigen Villa namens „Eden“ und entführt uns in die roaring Twenties..
Ich hab am liebsten die Geschichte der ältesten Generation gelesen in den Gründungsjahren der Villa und den gesellschaftlichen Vergnügungen der 20er Jahre.. Bälle, Charleston und Champagner.. auch war mir die jüngere Generation nicht so sympathisch und ich könnte so manche Handlungen nicht nachvollziehen. Gut, dass am Anfang des Buches ein Stammbaum hinterlegt ist, denn bei der großen Familie kommt man sonst schnell mal durcheinander. Der Schreibstil ist ruhig und unaufgeregt und das Ende lässt mich befriedigt und beruhigt zurück. Wer Lust auf einen unaufgeregten Familienroman hat mit ein wenig Spannung aber ohne große Überraschungen, der kann hier zugreifen.
Ich hab am liebsten die Geschichte der ältesten Generation gelesen in den Gründungsjahren der Villa und den gesellschaftlichen Vergnügungen der 20er Jahre.. Bälle, Charleston und Champagner.. auch war mir die jüngere Generation nicht so sympathisch und ich könnte so manche Handlungen nicht nachvollziehen. Gut, dass am Anfang des Buches ein Stammbaum hinterlegt ist, denn bei der großen Familie kommt man sonst schnell mal durcheinander. Der Schreibstil ist ruhig und unaufgeregt und das Ende lässt mich befriedigt und beruhigt zurück. Wer Lust auf einen unaufgeregten Familienroman hat mit ein wenig Spannung aber ohne große Überraschungen, der kann hier zugreifen.
August 19, 2017
EDEN by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg is a story about the Meister family and their love affair with Eden, the family's summer home. This beautiful, rich, character-driven story spans many generations and seamlessly alternates between different points of view, both in the past and the present. Becca and her two brothers preside over Eden. When Becca's husband unexpectedly passes away, she is left penniless and in debt and must fight for the house to stay in the family. I fell in love with the heavenly beach setting. I love how real the characters felt and how engrossed I was in the story of these women. This was a masterful debut novel by Blasberg and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next! I highly recommend this to anyone who LOVES reading about family drama with plenty of secrets!
July 8, 2024
Great summer read and very fitting for the 4th of July weekend! I love a book that jumps through time and allows you to put the puzzle pieces together to build the story. There were a few moments it got confusing, especially when there were flashbacks within the present day chapters, but otherwise still an interesting read! It also was a little tricky to keep track of all the characters, but the family tree supplement was a big help!
September 6, 2017
Thank goodness for the family tree in the beginning of the story or I would have been completely lost! I loved the beach front setting and the beautiful house Eden but flipping back and forth in time totally had me confused! This was an interesting family saga with characters I had a love/hate relationship with. Beautiful prose and a first book worth reading.
June 10, 2017
Eden--No Family Paradise
"Eden" is in my favorite genre--psychological family drama.
Like other mothers, the women in the Meister clan who are mothers or mothers-to-be make demands on their children whom they love but they also stifle them, especially their daughters. They stifle their own feelings as well. "Eden" is emotional and dramatic and things left unsaid result in the main characters being blind to what is going on in their own families. The unspoken is sometimes far more powerful than what's spoken as the family reveals long-held secrets. What is moving in "Eden"--and skillfully crafted by Blasberg--is not that the gulf between parent and child has been closed but that it's still there. A very timely exploration of stressed relationships that is terrific reading!
"Eden" is in my favorite genre--psychological family drama.
Like other mothers, the women in the Meister clan who are mothers or mothers-to-be make demands on their children whom they love but they also stifle them, especially their daughters. They stifle their own feelings as well. "Eden" is emotional and dramatic and things left unsaid result in the main characters being blind to what is going on in their own families. The unspoken is sometimes far more powerful than what's spoken as the family reveals long-held secrets. What is moving in "Eden"--and skillfully crafted by Blasberg--is not that the gulf between parent and child has been closed but that it's still there. A very timely exploration of stressed relationships that is terrific reading!
July 1, 2017
Jeanne Blasberg's debut is a sweeping epic of several generations of families living in a grand house in the fictional town of Long Harbor, Rhode Island. The house, rightfully dubbed Eden, is the Tara of this family, the center of both happy summers and secrets shoved under the rug. Blasberg's characters are well-drawn and the arc of their lives is richly entwined and artfully depicted. Eden is an emotional story that is a fitting read for a deck chair facing the sea with the sound of the waves as the soundtrack.
August 24, 2017
This novel is literally the perfect summer read. Beautiful writing, languid pacing, lovely characters and a story that is easy to get swept up in. The characters might be a challenge to keep up with if you're listening to the audio, but after referring to the family tree in from of the print copy a couple of times, I had them down. If you enjoyed Commonwealth or The Nest, this will probably be a good fit for you. Best read in the sunshine (even better at a beach or a lake!) with a cold drink and some time to savor.
June 27, 2017
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s debut novel, EDEN (SheWritesPress) is inspired from her own personal childhood journals. It’s the story of the wealthy multi-generational Meister family between the years 1920-2000, when the United States experienced seismic social, technical and economic tipping points.
Becca Meister Fitzpatrick, wife, mother and grandmother has been the anchor encouraging family members to return every summer to the Rhode Island, oceanfront estate, “Eden.” “Eden,” which Becca’s parents built for the family, is the biblical word for paradise and there are biblical undertones throughout the book, which add to the flavor and complexity of the novel.
It starts in the 1920’s, when patriarch, Bernard, changes the spelling of his name, arrives at Yale, able to pass so he can maneuver his way into society. He marries, Sadie, a woman outside his faith which causes scandal, but nothing wealth can’t eliminate.
Now in her 70’s, Becca has learned her recently deceased husband, has lost the family’s nest egg and “Eden” may have to be sold. It’s the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend and Becca has to share the news with the family, including her three brothers who each have vested interests in “Eden,” but don’t share her love.
The novel alternates between past and present and includes actual historical references, such as the hurricane of 1938. EDEN also includes episodes of how women were “banished” to “hospitals” for post-partum depression, alcoholism and experiencing difficult pregnancies. Blasberg fluidly highlights society as it changes over eight-decades.
While reading EDEN, I was reminded of J. Courtney Sullivan’s novel, MAINE (2011). Both are set in upper class, summer enclaves, which help focus on the family dysfunction, but there, the similarities stop. As Leo Tolstoy wrote, “All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
That’s why we love reading novels about family’s, their ups and downs, particularly their problems, because they’re never the same – but rich or poor, we’ve all got them.
EDEN is a gem of a novel and I’m quite surprised it’s Blasberg’s debut. I look forward to her future work.
By the way, Jeanne includes a flow chart of the characters and their relationships, which is helpful if you get a bit mixed up. There are a lot of characters to keep straight. I referred to it several times.
Becca Meister Fitzpatrick, wife, mother and grandmother has been the anchor encouraging family members to return every summer to the Rhode Island, oceanfront estate, “Eden.” “Eden,” which Becca’s parents built for the family, is the biblical word for paradise and there are biblical undertones throughout the book, which add to the flavor and complexity of the novel.
It starts in the 1920’s, when patriarch, Bernard, changes the spelling of his name, arrives at Yale, able to pass so he can maneuver his way into society. He marries, Sadie, a woman outside his faith which causes scandal, but nothing wealth can’t eliminate.
Now in her 70’s, Becca has learned her recently deceased husband, has lost the family’s nest egg and “Eden” may have to be sold. It’s the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend and Becca has to share the news with the family, including her three brothers who each have vested interests in “Eden,” but don’t share her love.
The novel alternates between past and present and includes actual historical references, such as the hurricane of 1938. EDEN also includes episodes of how women were “banished” to “hospitals” for post-partum depression, alcoholism and experiencing difficult pregnancies. Blasberg fluidly highlights society as it changes over eight-decades.
While reading EDEN, I was reminded of J. Courtney Sullivan’s novel, MAINE (2011). Both are set in upper class, summer enclaves, which help focus on the family dysfunction, but there, the similarities stop. As Leo Tolstoy wrote, “All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
That’s why we love reading novels about family’s, their ups and downs, particularly their problems, because they’re never the same – but rich or poor, we’ve all got them.
EDEN is a gem of a novel and I’m quite surprised it’s Blasberg’s debut. I look forward to her future work.
By the way, Jeanne includes a flow chart of the characters and their relationships, which is helpful if you get a bit mixed up. There are a lot of characters to keep straight. I referred to it several times.
August 23, 2019
EDEN by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg is a sweeping family saga covering the lives of one family over several generations and nearly one hundred years. Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and at Eden, this affluent family’s summer home in Long Harbor, Rhode Island, the compelling story is filled with mystery, drama and intrigue and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. Becca Meister, the family matriarch now in her seventies, is distraught to learn that her recently deceased husband left their financial affairs in ruins and this may be the last summer she can spend at her beloved Eden. She gathers the entire extended family together for a Fourth of July celebration so she can disclose the current situation with the estate while also revealing several deeply-buried secrets of the past that are sure to shock everyone, especially the younger generations. The book alternates between the past and present, sharing insight into the lives of each family member and how their stories are interwoven. The characters are wonderfully-portrayed and I felt completely drawn into each of their lives. The complicated relationships between the characters and the secrets they have kept felt real and relatable. I really enjoyed how the author provided real historical events over the decades as a backdrop to the family’s history. I also appreciated that the author provided a family tree to help keep all the characters straight. I truly enjoyed this moving tale of love and loyalty between parents and children, brothers and sisters and husbands and wives and highly recommend it!
May 23, 2017
A sweeping family saga, Eden chronicles four generations of Meister Fitzpatrick women from 1915 to 2000. The book centers on an extraordinary summer home aptly named after the Biblical paradise. As the novel opens, the family matriarch, Becca, is faced with the loss of this beloved home due to her late husband’s financial missteps. She is also planning to disclose a long-held secret to her extended family over a Fourth of July weekend. Fireworks result from both as family love and loyalties are tested and resentments emerge. Eden is both a marvelous summer read and a fascinating look at the changing roles and choices available to women throughout the 20th century—and how these choices, or lack of choice, reverberate through generations. You will love this book! I certainly did.
July 21, 2017
This was quite a page-turning family saga. The family was definitely easy to relate to, all the drama, love, celebrations, and secrets. The author captured that old New England family vibe. It's really like two stories unfolding at the same time, beginning in Pittsburgh with Bunny and Sadie meeting up, marrying, and starting the Meister family in the 1920's, which comes forward in time through the story of their kids with a focus on their daughter Becca. Becca appears in the current time line with her kids and grandkids. The whole thing is centered around Eden, the family home in an upscale New England, seaside town. Very hard to believe this was a debut! I look forward to more by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg. Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2017
Eden is a sweeping family saga, following the lives of the Meister family over 9 decades. Eden is the family's summer home, witness to the ebb and flow of this family...through joys and sorrows, love and loss, scandals and secrets. The characters in this book are very real, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and their relationships are sometimes difficult, oftentimes stormy, but mostly loving. The author does an excellent job of pulling the reader in in this story of life, love, and family.
August 7, 2017
REVIEW: What a read. From cover to cover I adored this book. It was heartbreaking and honest and deep and richly driven by the characters. I thought that the book was one of those reads that is hard to forget because you become so emotionally invested in the characters and the story. I wanted to speed through the book and savor it slowly, at the same time. I could see this being a movie or a mini series. So great!
September 18, 2017
More like a 3.5. I loved the story and it started out strong. It was a great first book. But there were a lot of characters and parts to the story that weren't developed well.
September 11, 2017
Full review and giveaway on my blog: http://www.thebookwhisperer.org/2017/...
May 16, 2017
An engaging story about several generations of a family, centered around their summer home in New England. An incredibly well-written first novel from this author, I look forward to reading more from her!
May 2, 2017
Becca Meister lives in her family home of Eden on Rhode Island. Her father built it following World War I. She has always lived at the house, but due to the debt that her husband left her with, she may now have to sell it. She wants to sell her share to her brother, so that the house can be kept in the family. For July 4th in the year 2000, Becca invites her whole family to give them a big announcement. Not only does she have something to tell the family, but her granddaughter, Sarah, has returned from college pregnant. Becca invites her brothers and their wives, her son and his family, and her sister-in-law for this family reunion. However, some family members can’t handle the news.
I struggled with this book. There were so many characters that I couldn’t keep track of them. About half way through I thought I had them all figured out, but then I got some names mixed up. I don’t like when a story is difficult to read without the help of a family tree, or taking notes.
Another thing that made it confusing is that it jumped back and forth between periods of time, and generations in the Meister family. It alternated between the “present” on the July 4th holiday in 2000 with Becca’s children and her siblings, and the early 20th century with Becca’s parents and her brothers.
The story line was good but moved very slowly to compensate for the jumping between time periods. This story could have been improved if it was spaced between a couple of different books. Even if it was divided into different volumes within this book that separated the different generations so it moved linearly through time, it would have improved my understanding of this novel.
I struggled with this book. There were so many characters that I couldn’t keep track of them. About half way through I thought I had them all figured out, but then I got some names mixed up. I don’t like when a story is difficult to read without the help of a family tree, or taking notes.
Another thing that made it confusing is that it jumped back and forth between periods of time, and generations in the Meister family. It alternated between the “present” on the July 4th holiday in 2000 with Becca’s children and her siblings, and the early 20th century with Becca’s parents and her brothers.
The story line was good but moved very slowly to compensate for the jumping between time periods. This story could have been improved if it was spaced between a couple of different books. Even if it was divided into different volumes within this book that separated the different generations so it moved linearly through time, it would have improved my understanding of this novel.
June 22, 2017
Definitely one of my favorite reads for 2017. It reminded me of all the fabulous sagas I read in the past. A sweeping historical novel of one family and one special house. I truly loved it!💚💚💚💚💚
July 8, 2017
I picked up this book at a great local book store in Westerly, RI. I love historical fiction, and I love that part of RI - so I was intrigued. Besides, I was on vacation.
The book provides a look into a privileged lives of women whose families summer in Long Harbor, RI. Based on the descriptions, Long Harbor must be Watch Hill - with it's large summer homes and beautiful crescent beaches. I enjoyed the descriptions, and the historical events (like the hurricane of 1938.). I wanted to love the book, but I had a few problems with it. First, the author goes from past to present - not unusual. What was at times hard to follow is that the story is told from many different perspectives. It was a little jarring. One moment you in the perspective of Sadie, the original matriarch, and the next moment you are getting the POV of Rachel, her grand daughter. Both describe the main character, Becca, in not very flattering terms. So it's a little hard to embrace Becca as the protagonist.
But my biggest problem with the book is the passivity of the female characters. I know that it takes place in a different time, but most of the female characters were passive, victimized, overlooked, and generally unable to have a say in her own future. The matriarch, Sadie, is involuntarily hospitalized for over a year for post-partum depression. For the rest of her life her husband makes decisions without consulting her and avoids "upsetting" her. Her daughter Becca learns after her husband's death that he has left her with no means (having squandered her inheritance.). Her daughter Rachel is a depressed alcoholic (why - she seems not to have ever had a job.). And her daughter is pregnant, hoping her much older college professor boyfriend will marry her.
I kept hoping that the women would band together to save the family's summer home. But instead they look to the men in their lives to resolve their fate. That was a major disappointment. It seems that their wealth and privilege held them hostage - to convention, and to the dictates of the men in their lives. I get that this may have been the point - but I was hoping they would rise in the end. It just didn't happen.
That said, I will miss inhabiting their world.
The book provides a look into a privileged lives of women whose families summer in Long Harbor, RI. Based on the descriptions, Long Harbor must be Watch Hill - with it's large summer homes and beautiful crescent beaches. I enjoyed the descriptions, and the historical events (like the hurricane of 1938.). I wanted to love the book, but I had a few problems with it. First, the author goes from past to present - not unusual. What was at times hard to follow is that the story is told from many different perspectives. It was a little jarring. One moment you in the perspective of Sadie, the original matriarch, and the next moment you are getting the POV of Rachel, her grand daughter. Both describe the main character, Becca, in not very flattering terms. So it's a little hard to embrace Becca as the protagonist.
But my biggest problem with the book is the passivity of the female characters. I know that it takes place in a different time, but most of the female characters were passive, victimized, overlooked, and generally unable to have a say in her own future. The matriarch, Sadie, is involuntarily hospitalized for over a year for post-partum depression. For the rest of her life her husband makes decisions without consulting her and avoids "upsetting" her. Her daughter Becca learns after her husband's death that he has left her with no means (having squandered her inheritance.). Her daughter Rachel is a depressed alcoholic (why - she seems not to have ever had a job.). And her daughter is pregnant, hoping her much older college professor boyfriend will marry her.
I kept hoping that the women would band together to save the family's summer home. But instead they look to the men in their lives to resolve their fate. That was a major disappointment. It seems that their wealth and privilege held them hostage - to convention, and to the dictates of the men in their lives. I get that this may have been the point - but I was hoping they would rise in the end. It just didn't happen.
That said, I will miss inhabiting their world.
October 4, 2017
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/17)
“Eden” is the poignant and powerful debut novel by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg.
Prior to the Great Depression, Bunny and Sadie Meister built a summer beach home called Eden, in prestigious Long Harbor, Rhode Island. Throughout the years, generations have made Eden their summer retreat; it is a place of so many memories. Except for a great storm when Eden was badly damaged, Eden has provided a safe harbor for the multiple generations of Meisters. Eden has also harbored a lot of secrets for this family. Many of these secrets come to light as the family comes to gather for what appears to be the last time on a Fourth of July weekend. Bunny and Sadie’s daughter Becca, who also became the steward of the home, has to let the family know that after her husband’s death, she will no longer be able to afford to hang on to Eden. The events leading up to this meeting are quite dramatic.
“Eden” tells a compelling story. The author has a creative art for switching between generations in each chapter. To avoid confusion, she carefully notes which era each chapter is about. There is also a diagram of the family tree, in the front of the novel, which helped me stay on track with family members. I loved being able to look back into each generation of the family because it gave me a better understanding of how they evolved. Seeing into their past made their quirks more understandable. They also became very familiar to me, and I loved being able to follow them through the generations. Because of the depth of the story, I was able to feel like I was a part of it. Even though all loose ends are carefully and artfully tied up, I still felt disappointed when the story ended. I am hopeful that the next generation of family members will continue to tell their story in second volume!
I highly recommend reading “Eden” by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg. It provided me with an interesting escape into another family’s drama. I wish I was able to read it while on vacation, so that I wouldn’t have had to put the book down so often! I also think it would be a great choice for a reader’s group. There is so much history and nostalgia in these pages, the story feels real!
“Eden” is the poignant and powerful debut novel by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg.
Prior to the Great Depression, Bunny and Sadie Meister built a summer beach home called Eden, in prestigious Long Harbor, Rhode Island. Throughout the years, generations have made Eden their summer retreat; it is a place of so many memories. Except for a great storm when Eden was badly damaged, Eden has provided a safe harbor for the multiple generations of Meisters. Eden has also harbored a lot of secrets for this family. Many of these secrets come to light as the family comes to gather for what appears to be the last time on a Fourth of July weekend. Bunny and Sadie’s daughter Becca, who also became the steward of the home, has to let the family know that after her husband’s death, she will no longer be able to afford to hang on to Eden. The events leading up to this meeting are quite dramatic.
“Eden” tells a compelling story. The author has a creative art for switching between generations in each chapter. To avoid confusion, she carefully notes which era each chapter is about. There is also a diagram of the family tree, in the front of the novel, which helped me stay on track with family members. I loved being able to look back into each generation of the family because it gave me a better understanding of how they evolved. Seeing into their past made their quirks more understandable. They also became very familiar to me, and I loved being able to follow them through the generations. Because of the depth of the story, I was able to feel like I was a part of it. Even though all loose ends are carefully and artfully tied up, I still felt disappointed when the story ended. I am hopeful that the next generation of family members will continue to tell their story in second volume!
I highly recommend reading “Eden” by Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg. It provided me with an interesting escape into another family’s drama. I wish I was able to read it while on vacation, so that I wouldn’t have had to put the book down so often! I also think it would be a great choice for a reader’s group. There is so much history and nostalgia in these pages, the story feels real!
June 13, 2017
A wonderful debut from a promising author! Loved every page!
December 12, 2018
Eden, a multigenerational family saga with themes of mother/daughter relationships and expectations, unwed girls facing pregnancies, adoption, privilege, women’s voice and power (or lack of), and family traditions. The most interesting part of the story for me was comparing the experiences of three unwed girls who faced unplanned pregnancies in different time periods over 8 decades. (More detail about this on the blog.) I recommend this book for readers who love well-told family sagas, for readers who might want to discuss thought provoking themes from female perspectives, and readers who might have familiarity with Rhode Island (or summer beach resort living!). Speaking of resorts, this would be a good beach vacation read. *reader tip* There are a lot of characters to track, and thankfully the author provides a family tree; however, you might want to take notes as well.
Find my full ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on the blog!
https://readingladies.com/2018/04/07/...
Find my full ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on the blog!
https://readingladies.com/2018/04/07/...
May 8, 2017
Blasberg expertly alternates a sweeping lifelong tale of a man and his dream of a beach home with the events of a summer almost a century later. From almost the very first page, this book drew me in and left me desperately wanting to live at Eden or at the very least, visit for a weekend. This book is a captivating and gorgeous story of generations of family and the intricacies of those relationships. It's a love story to a family property and the beach community it inhabits, but most of all, it is a story of mothers and daughters. This is an astounding debut and a must-have book for every beach bag this summer. I can't wait to read Blasberg's future work.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
May 8, 2017
The adage you can't judge a book by its cover comes to mind. While a picture of dunes with endless sky on the cover draws the reader into a stand out beach-read, EDEN is much more than that.
Through the character of Sadi Meister, the author connects the reader with an account of postpartum depression so vivid that it may have the power to inspire a more open, mainstream conversation about holistic mental health resources and interventions for new mothers, new fathers and their children.
Just as Piper Kerman's "Orange is the New Black" gave voice to voiceless women, Jeanne Blasberg's characters bring out mental health and extended family issues that have been swept under the rug for far too long. Worth the time, on or off the beach!
Through the character of Sadi Meister, the author connects the reader with an account of postpartum depression so vivid that it may have the power to inspire a more open, mainstream conversation about holistic mental health resources and interventions for new mothers, new fathers and their children.
Just as Piper Kerman's "Orange is the New Black" gave voice to voiceless women, Jeanne Blasberg's characters bring out mental health and extended family issues that have been swept under the rug for far too long. Worth the time, on or off the beach!
May 18, 2017
Stunning and heartfelt. Full review to come.
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